International Patients Center

It is not an obvious situation when you are confronted with an urgent medical problem while visiting Belgium as a tourist or for business purposes. We, at OLV Hospital, are committed to help you.

Alternatively, you may decide to travel to Belgium - whether or not upon referral from your local physician - with the specific purpose of finding an adequate medical treatment, which is not available in your country of origin.

The International Patient Center is committed to inform and assist you, as a foreign patient, in the best possible way.

The International Patients Center is at your service as:

your initial and single contact as an international patient in the OLV Hospital,

your contact to make a medical appointment with the appropriate physician

The International Patient Center can be contacted by e-mail (ipc@olvz-aalst.be) or - when you are already in the hospital - you can ask for us at the central reception desk.

About OLV

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The OLV Hospital offers a wide array of consultations, tests, medical procedures, treatments and after-care, both in an outpatient setting as in hospitalisations for inpatients.

The OLV Hospital encourages a multidisciplinary approach, involving all medical departments to meet the medical needs of each individual patient. We also aim to minimize the impact of any medical procedure for the patient, thus facilitating quicker recovery. From this perspective, the OLV Hospital is a pioneer in the application of minimally invasive techniques and robot-assisted surgery.

Our physicians, nurses and all other staff members are full committed to provide top quality care. In addition to the physical health of our patients, they also aim to address the patients well-being in all aspects and in each stage of life. Quality of care and patient safety are top priorities for the OLV Hospital. Our continuous efforts in this field have been awareded with a Gold Seal accreditation by the Joint Commission International (JCI).

The OLV Hospital is one of the largest non-university hospitals in Belgium:

With more than 2,500 employees and over 300 physicians and other independent health professionals, the OLV Hospital is the biggest employer in the region where it operates.

Operating almost 1,000 hospital beds (844 licensed inpatient beds and 144 outpatient beds in a day clinic setting), the OLV Hospital is one of the largest hospitals in Belgium. The OLV Hospital performs over 50 thousand surgical procedures and manages over 90 thousand admissions (hospitalisation and day clinic) per annum.

The OLV Hospital has a healthy financial structure, which enables the on-going investment in innovation. Several innovative and break-through medical therapies are pioneered at the OLV Hospital, which participates in many international clinical trial programmes. Our commitment to innovation is also reflected in the impressive number of articles from our physcians that are included in renowned international medical publications.

Getting here

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The OLV Hospital in Aalst is easily accessible for patients coming from abroad:

The railway station in Aalst is directly connected with the railway stations at Brussels Airport (Zaventem, Brussels) and at the main cities in Belgium. The OLV Hospital is within 10 minutes walking distance (1300 meters) of the Aalst railway station, but, alternatively, you may take the bus (lines 41, 42, 43) or a taxi.

Aalst is situated along the E40 motorway, between Brussels and Ghent, which implies a great accessibility from all major cities in Belgium. When traveling by car to the OLV Hospital, you can use the parking area underneath the hospital.

Our International Patient Center can help you with practical advice for your itinerary.

The OLV Hospital offers a "rooming-in" option for persons who accompany the hospitalised patient. Alternatively, the International Patient Center can refer you to a number of hotels in Aalst that offer special rates for OLV Hospital gueasts.

Main medical departments

As a JCI-accredited hospital, all medical departments of the OLV Hospital provide top quality care to its patients.

While the OLV Hospital covers a wide array of medical disciplines, it has gained a sound international reputation as center of excellence in specific areas including:

Urology. The OLV Hospital's urology department is at the forefront of medical innovation in its area. The urology surgeons are experts in laser techniques and robotic-assisted surgery. The departmental head is the co-founder and inspirer of ORSI, an OLV-related organisation that trains international physicians in robotic surgery. The OLV Hospital is certified as ERUS Robotic Training Center.

Cardiology and Cardiovascular & thoracic surgery. Both departments jointly form the OLV Cardiac Center which has built a strong international reputation as medical innovator.

Neurosurgery. OLV's neurosurgery department is world-wide recognised as center of excellence in its discipline with a wide expertise in procedures regarding the spine and the central nervous system (brains, nerves, spinal cord).

Brain surgery is an important area of expertise which is here often supported by neuronavigation, enabling an even higher degree of surgical precision combined with a further reduction of surgery-related risks. Traditionally, the treatment of deviations of the spinal column (lumbal discus hernia, et cetera), is another focus point of our neurosurgeons

Insurance and cost estimations

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When you need urgent medical attention and when you have to visit our Emergency Care Department during a visit to Belgium (as a tourist or for business reasons), the following insurance documents or prepayments are required:

a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), when you are a European citizen, or

a valid Guarantee of Payment (GOP letter) from an insurance company, or

a payment of advances in accordance with the cost of your treatment.

For planned consultations, tests, treatments and hospitalizations, you require:

an S2/E112 form, when you are a European citizen, or

a valid Guarantee of Payment (GOP letter) from an insurance company, or

a payment of advances in accordance with the cost of your treatment.

Please note that all planned interventions require a prior consultation in order to adequately assess your medical needs. Please contact ipc@olvz-aalst.be to schedule your consultation. Upon that consultation, the International Patients Center can provide you with a cost indication for your specific situation. This will enable you to decide on the next steps. The International Patients Center is always available to provide additional information and assistance.

What will it cost? (Inami/Riziv patients)

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To some extent, you can define the price of your health yourself

In the Belgian social security system (Inami/Riziv), basic health care is accessible and affordable for all persons entitled. The cost that you have to bear yourself as a patient, also depends on a number of options that you make yourself. Find out more in the text underneath and via the menu at the left-hand side of this window.

Some medical acts that do not require a hospitalisation of more than a day, are charged as a consult (with an 'ambulant invoice'), while a 'day clinic invoice' is issued for other similar acts. Whether a medical act triggers either an ambulant invoice or a day clinic invoice, depends on the applicable Inami/Riziv-nomenclature for the medical act in question. Inami/Riziv has issued a limitative list of medical acts that can be charged with a day clinic invoice. In some cases, it may happen that you are registered for an admission in the day clinic, but that you receive nevertheless an ambulant invoice: this can be explained by the fact that in the end not medical act has been performed that is included on the limitative Inami/Riziv-list.

The model of the hospital invoice is defined by law. It comprises a lot of information. Please find hereunder a number of invoice-examples along with a brief explanation for each invoice section. These examples allow you to better understand which acts/activities are included on your personal invoice, and which part of the total cost you still have to pay yourself.

The OLV Hospital aims to inform its patient as good as possible about everything related to your visiting our hospital. Please contact first your treating physician. In addition, a lot of information can also be found on our website and at our registration desks in the hospital. For questions that require an extensive answer or discretion, please contact our colleage at the reception desk and aks for our Patient Service Point at the main entrance hall of the hospital in Aalst.

For legibility reasons the information is presented in a simplified form. Only the most frequent situations are described. For complete, accurate information, please contact our Invoicing Department: T. +32 53 72 41 30 - E-mail: facturatie@olvz-aalst.be. The information on this web page is a mere indication. In case of doubt or discussion, the text of the form that is signed by the patient upon registration, prevails.

Consultation: fee and medical costs are charged separately

The cost of a medical consultation includes two major elements:

The physician's fee, which is comprised of a basic fee that is potentially increased with a fee supplement (see further)

The costs of additional medical acts or technical examinations, when applicable, that are performed during the consultation.

At the end of the medical consultation, you pay the fee to the treating physician or to the employee of his/her medical secretariat. Some physicians or medical departments in the OLV Hospital use a payment terminal. In other cases you will be invited to pay in cash. (An ATF of the ING-bank can be found in our site in Aalst).

It is common practice that the treating physician also performs a medical examination or another medical act during the consultation. In these cases, the physician makes use of instruments, devices and/or equipment of the OLV Hospital. A separate cost is charged for this usage, apart from the physician's fee. This cost is not charged immediately at the end of the consultation: you will receive a separate invoice at a later stage.

Convention price rates: the basic prices rates are defined in a convention

The basic price rates for the physician's fee are agreed upon in a national committee with the health insurers (mutuels). The agreed basic prices are formalised in a convention.

Individual physicians who subscribe the convention, commit themselves to always apply the basic convention price rates for any consultation. In the OLV Hospital over half of the physicians have subscribed the convention. Click here for the convention 2017-2018 price rates for consultations. As of 2015, the "remgeld" (part to be borne by the patient) for convention price rates is set at 12 euro for all medical specialisms (3 euro for patients who are entitled to an increase compensation by the insurance).

Individual physicians who decide not to subscribe the convention, may charge supplements to their fee, which come on top of the agreed convention price rate.

Note: for medical acts and examinations as well, basic price rates are agreed upon by a national committee.

Upon request, you can always make an appeal on a physician who applies the convention price rates.

It either concerns a physician who has subscribed the convention, or a doctor who has not subscribed the convention but has agreed to help you at the convention price rates. Please consult thelist of OLV physicians to learn who has (or has not) subscribed the convention. For the most up-to-date information in this respect, please check the corresponding information on the Inami/Riziv website. Should you wish to be treated by a physician who has not subscribed the convention at convention price rates, please mention this explicitly to the physician concerned. The concerned physician is free whether or not to comply with your request; he can also refer you to a colleague. Your freedom to choose a physician can be restricted if you prefer to be treated at convention price rates.

If you are member of a health insurer (mutuel), this institution reimburses a major part of the physician's fee. First, however, you have to pay (pre-finance) the entire physician's fee at the end of the consultation. Upon payment the physician will give you a 'certificate of provided medical assitance'. When you forward this certificate to your health insurer, a part of the sum will be reimbursed.

In most cases, you will only bear the so-called "remgeld"; that is the part of the physician's fee that is not reimbursed by your health insurer. This "remgeld" is in principle much lower than the part that is borne by your health insurer. (Fee supplements, when applicable, are not covered by your health insurer, and need to be borne by yourself).

Two remarks:

You may have subscribed to a hospitalization insurance (with a private insurer). Some of them also cover (a part of) the "remgeld", and some even (a part of) the fee supplements. Check your insurance policy, or contact your insurance broker (or the responsible colleague at the HR department of your employer, if the insurance policy is part of your compensation package). Make sure to check this prior to going to the medical consultation. Keep all fee certificates and invoices related to your medical consultation on file. Read our tips concerning hospitalisation insurance.

If you are not covered by a recognised mutuel/insurer, you cannot make an appeal to the Belgian social security system. Are you a citizen of an EU member state, then bring along your Euroepan health insurance card (previously document E111) or a warrant letter of your insurance, when you come to the hospital for a consultation. More information at the registration desk.

What do you have to pay yourself for additional medical acts and/or examinations?

If you are member of a health insurer (mutuel), this institution reimburses a major part of the additional medical acts and/or examinations.

However, these additional acts/examinations will be invoiced to you, and you should pay them in first instance, prior to (partial) reimbursement by your health insurer.

If you have had a consultation at the convention price rate, the OLV invoice will only include the "remgeld" (the part that you have to bear yourself). The part that is covered by the health insurance, is not mentioned on this invoice.

If you have had a consultation that was not at the convention price rate, the OLV invoice will mention the full cost - i.e. both your part ànd the part that is covered by the health insurance. In first instance, the entire amount has to be paid by you. Along with the invoice comes a 'certificate of provided medical assistance'. Forward this certificate to your health insurer, who will then reimburse a major part of the invoice.

Two remarks:

You may have subscribed to a hospitalization insurance (with a private insurer). Some of them also cover (a part of) the "remgeld", and some even (a part of) the fee supplements. Check your insurance policy, or contact your insurance broker (or the responsible colleague at the HR department of your employer, if the insurance policy is part of your compensation package). Make sure to check this prior to going to the medical consultation. Keep all fee certificates and invoices related to your medical consultation on file. Read our tips concerning hospitalisation insurance.

If you are not covered by a recognised mutuel/insurer, you cannot make an appeal to the Belgian social security system. Are you a citizen of an EU member state, then bring along your European health insurance card (previously document E111) or a warrant letter of your insurance, when you come to the hospital for a consultation. More information at the registration desk.

For legibility reasons the information is presented in a simplified form. Only the most frequent situations are described. For complete, accurate information, please contact our Invoicing Department: T. +32 53 72 41 30 - E-mail: facturatie@olvz-aalst.be. The information on this web page is a mere indication. In case of doubt or discussion, the text of the form that is signed by the patient upon registration, prevails.

What can be charged?

The costs related to a hospital admission (day clinic or longer) includes several major elements:

The invoice for your hospital admission is only issued a couple of weeks after your dismissal from the hospital. If you are a member of a health insurance fund (mutuel), and thus also entitled to benefit from the official Belgian social security, you don't have to pay anything upfront at the moment of your dismissal from the hospital.

For a great number of costs related to your hospital admission, basic price rates are set (by law, by a national convention or by the OLV Hospital itself).

The government has set a number of fixed day rates, e.g. for medicines, technical acts, clinical biology and medical imaging). These fixed day rates are charged in conformity with the applicable stipulations.

The basic price rates for the cost of residence, applicable in the OLV Hospital, are listed hereunder. The amounts refer to the "remgeld" for a person covered by the Belgian social security system who cannot benefit from a preferential price rate (and who is no descendant nor unemployed). This basic price rate currently amounts to:

€73.86 for the first day of admission. (This amount also includes the fixed day rates for medicines, technical acts, clinical biology and medical imaging)

€16.55 per day, starting from the 2nd day until the 90th day of admission. (This amount includes the residence and the fixed day rate for medicines)

€16.55 per day (for patients who have no dependents) or €6.28 per day (for patients with a dependent), as of the 91st day of admission.

Preferential price rates apply for widows, disabled pesons, retired persons and orphans ('WIGW') as well as for unemployed persons who meet certain conditions. Please consult the hospital price rates for more details.

The basic price rates for the fee of physicians and paramedics (also called 'convention price rates') are agreed by a national committee and are set for each medical act, i.e. the so-called 'nomenclature'.

Individual physicians who subscribe the convention, commit themselves to always apply the basic convention price rates for any consultation. In the OLV Hospital over half of the physicians have subscribed the convention.

Individual physicians who decide not to subscribe the convention, may charge supplements to their fee, which come on top of the agreed convention price rate.

Upon request, you can always make an appeal on a physician who applies the convention price rates.

It either concerns a physician who has subscribed the convention, or a doctor who has not subscribed the convention but has agreed to help you at the convention price rates. Please consult the list of OLV physicians to learn who has (or has not) subscribed the convention. For the most up-to-date information in this respect, please check the corresponding information on the Inami/Riziv website. Should you wish to be treated by a physician who has not subscribed the convention at convention price rates, please mention this explicitly to the physician concerned. The concerned physician is free whether or not to comply with your request; he can also refer you to a colleague. Your freedom to choose a physician can be restricted if you prefer to be treated at convention price rates.

Your choice of the treating physician and the room type is determinative

The price rates that will be ultimately charged, depend on (a) the physician you chose to be treaten by, and (b) the type of room that you chose for your residence in the hospital. When are supplements charged? Please verify the overview hereunder.

Overview

The 'convention status' of the physician whom you have chosen to be treaten by

Physicians who have subscribed the convention, or who have agreed to work against convention price rates prior to the start of your treatment

Both for admission/treatment in the Day Clinic as for admission in the hospital

Physician who have not subscribed the convention (thus not working at convention price rates)

(when you opt for a single room, the arrangement for physicians who have not subscribed the convention will be applied: see both adjacent columns)

Fee at convention price rates + a fee supplement of 150% maximum

Room at basic price rate + a room supplement of €36.04 per day for a room without shower and €42.50 per day for a room with shower.

Fee at convention price rates + a fee supplement of 150% maximum

Room at basic price rate + a room supplement of €36.04 per day for a room without shower and €42.50 per day for a room with shower.

Costs for addition services (hairdresser, pedicure, newspapers and magazines, drinks, snacks,...) are not included in the room rate and should be paid directly (no inclusion in hospitalisation invoice possible).

What do you have to pay yourself; what goes via 'third payor arrangement'?

A major part of your hospitalisation invoice will be settled directly with your health insurance fund or hospitalisation insurance: this is the so-called 'third payor arrangement'. Only for you personal share in the costs you will receive an invoice ('verpleegnota').

Costs for additional services (hairdresser, pedicure, newspaper, magazines,...) have to be paid by yourself upon purchase at the services involved.

Our invoices mention the costs that are borne by the health insurance fund, and, in a separate column, the costs that are to be borne by yourself.

Two remarks:

You may have subscribed to a hospitalization insurance (with a private insurer). Some of them also cover (a part of) the "remgeld", and some even (a part of) the fee supplements. Check your insurance policy, or contact your insurance broker (or the responsible colleague at the HR department of your employer, if the insurance policy is part of your compensation package). Make sure to check this prior to going to the medical consultation. Keep all fee certificates and invoices related to your medical consultation on file. Read our tips concerning hospitalisation insurance.

If you are not covered by a recognised mutuel/insurer, you cannot make an appeal to the Belgian social security system. Are you a citizen of an EU member state, then bring along your European health insurance card (previously document E111) or a warrant letter of your insurance, when you come to the hospital for a consultation. More information at the registration desk.